GOJRA: At least nine people were killed in armed clash between two groups and police firing on the mob here on Saturday.An angry mob marched towards a village of rival community in Tehsil Gojra District Toba Tek Singh where fierce clashes erupted between the two groups.At least nine people including six women belonging to both sides lost their lives in armed clashes and police firing. Many others were injured. On the orders of President Asif Zardari, the government sent Punjab Rangers to the riot-hit town to maintain law and order.A heavy contingent of police was also dispatched to the troubled area to bring the situation under control. The government sent Punjab Rangers to riot-hit Gojra to According to Reuters and AFP, six Christians, including four women, were burnt alive and dozens were wounded in clashes in the town, officials said, adding 40 houses and a church were also burnt over the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in the town, officials said.Tension has been running high between the two communities in Gojra over allegations that Christians had desecrated the Holy Quran.Clashes erupted early on Saturday, with an exchange of fire from the members of the two communities.Television footage showed burning houses and streets strewn with blackened furniture and people firing at each other from their rooftops.Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti alleged a mob “misled by extremists”, attacked a Christian neighbourhood and torched dozens of houses.“We have received six bodies of people who died of burn injuries. They included four women, one man and one child,” Abdul Hamid, a Health Ministry official in the town told Reuters by telephone.Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, who is also responsible for security matters of Punjab, condemned the attack and said an inquiry had been ordered.However, he said, a preliminary investigation showed there was no desecration of the Holy Quran. “It was just a rumour which was exploited by anti-state elements to create chaos,” he said.“I request both Muslim and Christian communities to show restraint,” Sanaullah said, adding the government would take strict action against rioters and also police who failed to stop the violence.August 1, 2009
Pakistan 9 killed in Gojra riots
GOJRA: At least nine people were killed in armed clash between two groups and police firing on the mob here on Saturday.An angry mob marched towards a village of rival community in Tehsil Gojra District Toba Tek Singh where fierce clashes erupted between the two groups.At least nine people including six women belonging to both sides lost their lives in armed clashes and police firing. Many others were injured. On the orders of President Asif Zardari, the government sent Punjab Rangers to the riot-hit town to maintain law and order.A heavy contingent of police was also dispatched to the troubled area to bring the situation under control. The government sent Punjab Rangers to riot-hit Gojra to According to Reuters and AFP, six Christians, including four women, were burnt alive and dozens were wounded in clashes in the town, officials said, adding 40 houses and a church were also burnt over the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in the town, officials said.Tension has been running high between the two communities in Gojra over allegations that Christians had desecrated the Holy Quran.Clashes erupted early on Saturday, with an exchange of fire from the members of the two communities.Television footage showed burning houses and streets strewn with blackened furniture and people firing at each other from their rooftops.Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti alleged a mob “misled by extremists”, attacked a Christian neighbourhood and torched dozens of houses.“We have received six bodies of people who died of burn injuries. They included four women, one man and one child,” Abdul Hamid, a Health Ministry official in the town told Reuters by telephone.Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, who is also responsible for security matters of Punjab, condemned the attack and said an inquiry had been ordered.However, he said, a preliminary investigation showed there was no desecration of the Holy Quran. “It was just a rumour which was exploited by anti-state elements to create chaos,” he said.“I request both Muslim and Christian communities to show restraint,” Sanaullah said, adding the government would take strict action against rioters and also police who failed to stop the violence.
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